Bottle carrier



lFan. l5, 1946.

J. L. LYONS.' JR

BOTTLE CARRIER 2' sheets-sheet 1 Filed July 1e, 1941 Jan, 15, 1946. J. l.. LYoNs, .1Rl Y 2,393,114

' BOTTLE CARRIER Filed July 1e, 1941 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Jan. l5, `1946 UNITED STATES PATENT oEFlcE 2,393,114 BOTTLE CARRIER Joseph L. Lyons, Jr., Chicago, Ill., assignor to Lyne Co., noie Chicago, Ill., a corporation of filli- Application July 16, 1941, Serial Nofdib 1l Cla. (Cl. 224-45) when not in use. It is customary to so arrange such carriers that six bottles may be disposed in upright position therein in two rows of three bottles each. A carrying handle is usually disposed between the two rows of bottles and the upper end thereof, which projects above the tops of the bottles, is arranged to aord a handle portion which may be grasped to enable transportation of the carrier.

While carriers of the aforesaid character aord a convenient means for transporting bottles from one place to another, it has been found advantageous, particularly in the distribution and collection of the bottles to and from the retail stores and the like from which they are sold, to utilize cases in which a relatively large number of bottles may be stored. Where the bottles are stored in carriers of the aforesaid character, it is quite advantageous to so arrange the carriers that a plurality thereof may be neatly ntted into a case of the aforesaid character. can be most expeditiously eiected by so sizing the carriers that they will require but very little lmore space than would be required for accommodating an equivalent number of free bottles in the case, and to so size a carrier of the aforesaid character is among the objects of the present invention.

When carriers of the aforesaid character filled with bottles are delivered to retail stores and the like, it has been found that sales can be promoted by stacking the carriers in a prominent position and since the floor space is at a premium in retail stores and the like, it is advantageous to enable a large number of carriers to be arranged in stackedrelationship, preferably one upon the other, for so to do enables the greatest number of carriers to be stored in a given area. However, in order to facilitate the transportation of carriers of the aforesaid character, it is essential that the portions thereof affording the handle be arranged to project above the tops of the bottles stored therein. Yet when carriers are stacked one -upon the other, it is necessary that the portions which project above the tops of the bottles a to afford a handle be so arranged that these portions will not interfere with the stacking of the carriers are stored in cases as aforesaid, it is sometimes desirable that the carriers be no higher than the bottles for frequently the cases are merely of suiicient height to extend but a short distance, if any, vabove the tops of the bottles stored therein. Hence here again it -is essential that any portions in a carrier of the aforesaid character that project abovethe tops of the bottles be so arranged as to enable disposition thereof in such locations that these portions will not,except when the carrier is being used to 1 transport bottles from one 'place to another, project above the tops of the'bottles, and to enable this to be accomplished is still another object` of the present invention.

An object of the invention ancillary to the fore-l going is to enable portions of carriers of the aforesaid character whichare adapted vto project above the tops of bottles stored therein, when the carrier is being used tc transport bottles from -one place to another, to be folded into a position wherein such portions will not project above the tops of the bottles.

similar parts of adjacent bottles in the other inasmuch as carriers of thev character to which the present invention pertains are usually employed in the transportation .of glass bottles and since, as is well understood, glass is subject to chipping and like damage, it is not only advantageous but necessary that bottles ,packaged in a container of the aforesaid character be prevented from coming in contact one with the other so as to thereby eliminate the likelihood .of chipping or otherwise damaging the bottles. It has been observed, where bottles are arranged in two rows in the manner above described in a carrier ofthe 'character to which this invention pertains, that the bottom edges -of the bottles in one row tend to move into and from engagement with observed in the use of bottle carriers as these have been constructed' heretofore and hence among the important objects of the present invention is to construct the collapsible bottlecarrier from cardboard or like material in such manas to avoid the diiliculties and objectionable features of prior bottle carriers, and an object.

carriers one upon the other'. 'Furthermore, when I5 related to the foregoing is to afford a bou-,1e carrier which is adaptable in its structural and functional characteristics to the usual procedure followed in the merchandising of bottled goods such as soft drinks.

A further cbjectof the present invention is to provide a new and improved bottle carrier wherein the handle section normally projects above the tops of the bottles so that it may be conveniently grasped by a purchaser and yet is adapted to be bent to a concealed out of the way position between the two rows of bottles in the carrier and to be maintained in such position so as to prevent damage to the handle in the course of stacking of the carriers or of cases in which such carriers are loaded; and further objects related to the foregoing are to enable the upper portion of the handle section to be quickly and easily released from its depressed or outof the way position, thereby to enable a loaded carrier to be quickly and easily lifted when so desired; and to so form and relate the elements oi the upper portion of the handle section that the locking of the edge of the upper portion of the handle beneath the edges ofthe bottle caps will not cause damage tothe engaged portion of the handle of the bottle carrier.

Bottle carriers made from cardboard ordinarily comprise a handle with two oppositely diverging bottle receiving sections pivotally associated therewith along the lower edge thereof. Downwardly projecting side walls are associated with the remote edges of the bottle receiving sections and a bottom wall is connected between the lower ends of the side walls. The bottle receiving sections have bottle receiving openings therein through which the bottles may be inserted to rest upon the bottom wall of the carrier. The bottle receiving sections are usually so disposed as to engage the bottles a substantial distance upwardly from the bottoni` wall, and since the ends of the bottle carrier are open near the bottom of the carriers it is desirable to provide means to prevent such tilting of the bottles as would cause the end bottles to move beyond theends of the bottom wall and hereby be dropped from the carrier. A further object of the present invention is, therefore, to enable end walls to be associated with the ends of the bottle receiving sections in such a manner that these end walls may be folded into out of the way positions within the carrier when the carrier is in its collapsed re- .impart a substantial cushioning and separating action to the bottles loaded in a collapsible cardboard bottle carrier: and a related object is to enable this to be attained through the use of cardboard stock of a minimum thickness or weight.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bottle carrier wherein the end edges of the blank are connected together in such a manner that these end edges are in the finished carrier located -within the foldable carrier so as to be protected. and a related object is to enable such concealed endsof the Iblank to be quickly and easily secured together by fastening means suc as staples. i Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way oi' illustration, show a preferred embodiment and the principle thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principle may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a collapsible bottle carrier made in accordance with the presentA invention, thecarrier being shown in unlation and yet may be shifted to a fixed and prev determined relationship when the bottle carrier is erected; and further objects related to the foregoing are to so construct and relate such end walls to the other elements of the bottle carrier that such end walls apply a positive restraining force to the end bottles in the carrier as an incident to the lifting of the loaded carrier by means of the handle; and to enable the handle portion of the carrier to cooperate with the foldable end walls or ilanges to positively determine the maximum extent of movement of the foldable end walls o1' iiaps.

`Another object is to enable the handle of a bottle carrier to be produced with a finished ap pearance, and ancillary objects related to the foregoing are to enable the handle of a bottle carrier to be formed with rounded edges at all points Where it is most frequently engaged by the fingers or hand of the user: and in a more speciilc aspect to enable theupper edge of the handle of the lbottle carrier to be formed by a fold line which not only improves the appearance and carrying characteristics of the handle but also inloaded erected position;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the blank from which the bottle carrier shown in Fig. l is formed, the locations of the various fastening means employed in assembling the carrier being indicated by broken lines;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the erected bottle carrier having a single bottle loaded there- Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of the erected carrier fully loaded;

Fig. 5 is a fragmental sectional view taken along'the line 5 5 of Fig. 3 and illustrating the construction of the handle section of the carrier and the relationship of the bottle retaining end walls or flaps;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the assembled bottle carrier with the parts illustrated in the positions which they assume as the carrier is originally assembled in collapsed form for storage or shipping purposes; and

Fig. '7 is an enlarged fragmental sectional view taken along the line 'l-l of Fig. 6 and showing the relationship of parts when the bottle carrier is in its collapsed relation.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the bottle carrier Ill, made from sheet material such as cardboard, includes a bottom Wall II, side walls I2 pivoted to and extending upwardly. from the opposite side edges of the bottom wall II, bottle receiving sections I3 pivotally connected to the upper edges of the side walls I2 and a, handle sec,- tion I4 joined pivotally to the adjacent upper edges of the bottle receiving sections I3 so as to extend upwardly therefrom. The bottle carrier III as herein shown is adapted for carrying six bottles of a predetermined diameter and a predetermined height which are disposed in two parallel rows of three bottles each located on opposite sides of the handle Il. In the present instance each of the bottle receiving sections is formed with individual bottle receiving openings for each of the six bottles which are tobe carried. Thus a central bottle receiving opening I is provided midway between the ends of each bottle receivthus been loaded it may be lifted and carried by grasping the portion of the handle section above the opening It formed in the handle section adjacent the upper edge'thereoi.

The borne carrier lo which has thus been gen-4.`

erally described is formed from a one-piece blank such as that shown in Fig. 2, this blank being cut from a sheet of material such as cardboard. In

general outline the blank is of elongated rectangular form terminating in parallel end edges Il. The present carrier is so constructed that the handle Id has a neat and finished upper edge, and to this end the blank is formed witha creaseor fold line 2@ parallel to and located intermediate the end edges Il, the fold line 2B in the" present instance |being located midway between these two end edges. On opposite sides of the fold line 2li the blank is formed to provide panels III' and It" which in the finished or assembled carrier are 1ocated and secured in parallel relationship to each other, as will hereinafter be described, to provide the handle III. The lower edge of the panel Iii' is dened by a fold line 2i which is parallel to the fold line 2B, while the lower edge of the panel III" is formed by a fold -line 2l" which is similarly located on the opposite side of the fold line Et.

vThe bottle receiving sections I3 are, in Fig. 2,

identified as sections I3' and I3" by reason of v the diilerent formation of certain flaps which are attached thereto, as will hereinafter be explained in detail. The bottle receiving sections I3 and I3" are defined at their lower edges by fold lines 22' and ii"y which are parallel to the central fold line 2t.

The side walls I2 are defined at their lower edges by fold lines 23, and on the outer edges of the side walls I2, as viewed in Fig. 2, a pair of bottom panels II and II" are formed, these two panels .being arranged to cooperate in the nished carrier to provide the bottom wall I I. The panels I I' and I I" are of equal width, and between each panel II and II" and the adjacent end edge I 'I a lower separating iiap 25 is provided, the aps 25 being defined with respect to the adjacent bottom panel through the medium of fold lines 2t. In the-finished and assembled carrier the two separating iiaps 25 extend upwardly from the bottom wall II in substantially the plane of the handle Id, and by joining the two flaps 25, the two panels of the bottom wall I I are secured together. In order that fastening of the two flaps 25 may be facilitated, the bottom` panels Il and II are formed with similarly positioned apertures 2 therein adjacent to and bordered on one side by the fold line 26, as will be evident from a consideration of Fig. 6 of the drawings. The two apertures 21 expose spaced portions or areas of the .iiaps 25 when these flaps are folded inwardly between the two panels II' and I I" inthe course of the assembly operation. The two flaps 25 may, therefore, be conveniently secured together by means such as staples 28 which pierce the naps 25 at the dotted line positions indicated at 25' in Fig. 2 of the drawings. It is to be understood, that the flaps as 25 might be glued or otherwise suitably joined together.

The handle I4 is arranged to afford a linger opening I6 as hereinbefore described, and this finger gripping opening is provided by an elongated opening It' in the panel I4' and by a gen'- erallysimilar opening I6" formed in the panel i4". In `forming the opening I6" the material of the panel I4" is allowed to remain in position to provide a. flap 29 joined to the panel It" along its upper edge'by a fold line 30, the balance 4of .the opening being formed by a sheared line which cuts entirely through the panel I". Thus in the` completed carrier, the flap 29v may be forced through the opening I6', thereby to so locate the flap that it presents a smooth yand fiat downwardly facing surface to fingers inserted into the opening I6. In order that the flap 2Q will remain in this operativeposition after it has once been forced through the opening It', the flap 29 is formed with endwise extensions or locking ears 3l which, as an incident to the movement of the flap 2li through the opening I6', become engaged with the opposite exposed face of the panel It to latch the flap in its operative position.

A fold line 32, parallel to the central fold line 2d, is formed in the panel Iii' somewhat below the fold line 3G and intersects the' opening I8" in the present instance. The fold line 32 is so located with relation to the height oi the erected carrier and with relation to the predetermined height of the bottles 3d for which the carrier is constructed that when the 4upper portion of the handle of the erected carrier is bent along the fold line 32,' the edge of the handle It, which is provided by the fold line 2t, may be engaged beneath the sharp edge of the caps 3d' of the hotties on one side of the carrier, to thereby hold the upper portion of the handle in an out vof the way position in which the normally projecting upper portion of the handle is located beneath the level of Jthe top surfaces of the caps St' of the bottles. A similar fold line 32 is, of course, formed in the panel Iii' to facilitate the bending of the handle as afore said, and it may be said that the bendable upper portion oi' the handle it comprises an Vupper handle panel capable of being moved into an out of the `Way position wherein it is protected from injury by cases or other bottle carriers which may be disposed above the top of the loaded carrier.

In accordance with the present invention the bottles which are loaded into the carrier IU are eectively cushioned against objectionable contact or rubbing ofthe bottles oneagainst; the

other, and in attaining this result the lower separating .naps 25 prevent rubbing or striking,

and

, from this fold line to the fold line 22".

.the adjacent flap 40.

leave a portion or the material of the bottle receiving section attached to the adiacent one of the panels I4' or I4" to provide a separating or cushioning flap 35 which, in the erected and loaded carrier. .is disposed between the two bottles located in the central bottle receiving openings i5. In the present instance the opening I is formed by a -pair of Vspaced straight cuts 36 extending from the fold line 2i' or 2|" into the adjacent bottle receiving lsection and by generally arcuate cuts 31 which are so related that the flap 35 is relatively wide. in its lower end'. Each flap 35 is connected to the adjacent one of-the panels I4' or I4" by a narrow tongue included between the two parallel cuts 38. In the form herein illustrated the lower end-of the flap 35 is cut away as indicated at 3B. The two generally arcuate cuts 31 are formed so that the opposite side edges of the opening I5 may be said to be generally elliptical, such formation being adopted because of the angular or upwardly sloping location of the bottle receiving panels I3 when the carrier is erected. 'I'he opening III is made of such a size that it will snugly receive a bottle 34 having a body of a predeter mined diameter.

The bottle receiving sections I3 have cushioning flaps 40 on opposite sides of the opening I5 which in the loaded carrier serve to space and cushion the central bottle with respect to the bottles in the adjacent bottle receiving openings I5'. These cushioning flaps 40 are formed from the material which is removed in the formation of the openings I5'. Each iap 4I! is joined to the adjacent portion of the bottle receiving section I3 by a fold line 4I which is perpendicular to the fold line 4I' and extends The fold lines 4I are disposed so as to be substantially tangentia1 to the generally arcuate cuts 31, and when the iiaps 40 are bent into a downwardly extending relationship these aps, in addition to their cushioning action, serve as strengthening aps to impart the requisite strength to the structure. It will be observed that with the flap 40 formed as above described, the remaining portions of the web between the fold line 4I and the adjacent generally arcuate cut 31 form webs 43 and 44. Each web 43 is bounded or deilned by the fold line 22", the adjacent fold line 4I and the adjacent position of the arcuate cut 31, and hence the web 43 has a substantial connection with .the upper edge of the side wall I2 and with the associated ap 4I). The other web 44 is of a somewhat different form and is bounded by a portion of the arcuate cut 31, the fold line 2|' or 2|", the adjacent straight cut 36, and the adjacent fold line 4I. Thus the web 44 has a substantial and strong connection along the fold line 2i' or 2i" with the adjacent panel of the handle and has a substantial and strong connection along the The two end openings I5 in each of the bottle receiving sections are of the same general form and arrangement, but these openings I5' are somewhat diierent in general form than the central opening I5. Thus it will be observed that each flap 4I) extends into the area which is included in the adjacent opening I5', and the bending of the ilap 40 in a downward direction provides a portion of the clear area required in providing the opening I5. The balance of the requisite open or clear area for each opening I5 is provided by cutting out of the material of the 'fold lines 2|' and 2|".

bottle receiving section along a generally arcuate line 46. which is, however. so modified from an arcuate form as to give the clearance which would be provided in an elliptical opening. The openings III' are arranged so that the cut lines .48 are substantially tangential with an extension of the adjacent end ed'ge 41 of the adjacent side wall I2, and extensions in the form of end flaps Y Bil are formed integrally with the bottle receiving sections I3 so as to extend beyond the ends of the bottle receiving sections. The naps En are joined to the ends o! thebottle receiving sections I3 through fold lines 5I each disposed substantially tangentially withrespect to the adjacent generally arcuate cut 46, the fold lines 5I being in effect continuations ot the edges 41. Hence the fold lines BI are disposed perpendicular to the Thus the flaps 50 may be bent downwardly so as to constitute stiifening flaps for the ends of the bottle receiving sections. It will be observed that the portions of the bottle receiving sections between the openings I5' and the fold lines 5I constitute webs 53 and 54, the web 83 being generally triangular in form and being defined by the cut line 46, the fold line 5I and the fold line 22' or 22". The web 54 is of a segmental shape deiined by the cut line 46, the fold line 5I, the fold line 2i' or 2l" and a cut line 55 which is utilized in forming the adjacent flap 40.

The flaps SIIl in the erected bottle carrier are varranged to depend from the end edges of the bottle receiving section to not only impart strength tothe ends of the bottle receiving sections about the openings I'but also to exert a retaining or restraining action upon the bottles so as to prevent displacement of the lower portions of the bottles in an endwise direction. Thus the end flaps 50 insure that the lower ends of 40 the bottles will not become displaced to such an fold line 4I with upon the endbottles of each row. To this end the two flaps 50 at each end of the carrier are generally triangular in form and are attached together along those edges of the flaps 50 which are adjacent to the center of the carrier when the carrier is erected. The adjacent end iiap's are so proportioned and so joined that when the carrier is erected and is loaded with bottles of the selected or predetermined diameter, the end wall which is thus formed will be drawn -taut in a substantially vertical plane. The flaps 50, however, are so joined to each other and so related to the other elements of the carrier that the end wall formed by the joined flaps may be folded to a at relationship, preferably inwardly of or between the two bottle receiving sections I3 when the carrier is in its collapsed relation.

In accomplishing this purpose the flaps 50 are formed with extending portions 60 and 60' joined to the other edges thereof along the fold lines 6| When all of the flaps 50 are folded inside of the blank along the fold lines 5I' and the blank is folded along the line 20 to bring the opposite faces of the flaps into opposed relation, as shown in Fig. 6, the two extending portions 60 and 60' of adjacent flaps 50 are disposed in opposing relal assaut.

n and I' may then be accomplished throughI insertion of fastening means such as staples 63. Hence when the bottle carrier is moved to its erected position the end wall formed by the united ilaps 50 moves toward the relationship shown in Figs. l. 3 and 4 of the drawings wherein the end wall spans the generally triangular space between the ends of the two bottle receiving sections i3. Such movement of the adjacent or attached flaps- 50 to a vertical position is, of course, completed by downward insertion of bottles 3l into the end bottle receiving openings IB'. The end wall formed by the joined flaps 50 therefore is drawn taut across the ends of the bottle carrier and acts as a bottle retaining means to prevent endwise displacement of the lower portions of the end bottles contained in the carrier. This bottle retaining means is rendered highly eiilcient through the provision of additional means for restraining such outward movement to a predetermined limit.

In the present instance this restrainingmeans is arranged to act between portions of the handle I4 and the joined ilaps 50, and this restraining means is so constructed and arranged that whenY the bottle carrier is erected it serves additionally as a separating means between the adjacent end bottles in the two rows. In accomplishing the desired separating and cushioning action the aforesaid restraining means functions in a manner generally similar to the action of the separating and cushioning ilap 35. Thus as herein shownV each of the extending portions 60', which are formed on the flaps 50 joined to the bottle receiving vsection I3', has an arm 65 formed thereon in such a relation that when the carrier is in its at or collapsed relationship this arm extends upwardly as shown in Figs. 6 and 'l into the space between the two panels I4' and it" of the handle it. Each of the arms 65 is cut away as indicated at S6 so as to clear a fastening meansy such as a rivet 6l which is employed to secure the two panels ill' and is" together just above the fold lines 2i' and 2i" and adjacent to the ends of the carrier.

With this construction it will be 'apparent that rwhen the bottle carrier is manipulated to its erected position of Figs. l, 3, 4 and 5, thearms t5 will be rotated generally about the point of intersection of the two fold lines Si so as to move the arms toward the positions shown in Fig. 3, and an additional fastening means, such as a staple It, extended between the two panels it' and it" acts as a stop means in the path of the two arms t5. The arms 65 andthe stop means provided byl the staple l!) are so constructed and related that when the end walls formed by the connected flaps '50 are shifted to a substantially vertical relationship the arms 65 strike the stop means to thereby prevent further outward movement of the end walls. As a result the end walls formed by the flaps lili operate efiiciently to prevent undesired displacement of the bottles in an endwise direction with relation to .the carrier. v

When the carrier is in its erected condition the portions of the arms 65 which are adjacent to the flaps B0 are disposed -in such positions that they are located between the adjacent end bottles in the carrier, and hence the arms 6-5 serve -as separating and cushioning means between the end bottles of the two rows. The arms 65 therefore serve a dual function, in that the two end bottles located in the two bottle receiving openings adjacent to one end of the carrier are separated from each other by the intervening portion of the adjacent arm 65, while this arm 85 also acts through its cooperative relationship Iwith the stop means 10 to positively maintain the naps 50 in a vertical relation. Hence these bottles are maintained in rmly seated relationship upon the panels of the bottom wall Il.

The adjacent lower end portions of the two bottles are also held in properly spaced and protected relationship with respect to each other through the upstanding lower separating wall 25. The protecting action of the wall 25 is attained during actual use of the carrier and also during the loading operation for it will be clear that as the second one of the two adjacent end bottles is moved downwardly toward the bottom wall Il, the ilap or separating wall 25 will prevent objectionable contact ofthe two lower edge portions of the two bottles.

The two end bottles are eiectually separated and cushioned with respect to the central bottle through the action of the separating flaps 40, while the two central bottles located on opposite sides "of the handle I4 are cushioned and separated from each other by the` separating flaps 35 as 'well ,as by the lower separating wall 25. Thus the :bottles in the present carrier are held iirmly in the desired positions in the carrier, and this end is attained in the present carrier in such a manner that the loaded carrier occupies a space which is substantially the same as the space which would be occupied by the same number of bottles when loaded in a conventional case in the usual manner. 'Ihe present carrier embodies a handle construction which presents a neat and flnished appearance heretofore unattainable in carriers of this general character, and the upper edge of the handle is formed by a 'fold line which cooperates withI the handle ap which is, in use, forced through the handle opening, to thereby provide rounded edges on the upper as well as the lower edges of the gripped portion of the handle. The novel handle flap of the present carrier is such that when it is used as aforesaid it is latched in its operative yposition by means of the latch elements 3 i, thereby to facilitate subsequent use of the carrier.

The present carrier is particularly advantageous in so far as stacking and handlingof the loaded carriers are concerned for the upper panel of the handle may be readily and easily bent along the fold line 32 so as to shift the upper end of the handle to an out of the way position between the two rows of bottles. Moreover, the handleconstruction provided by the present invention is such that the upper portion of the handle may be latched readily and easily in the out of the way position to which it has been bent and nevertheless, the handle may be quickly and easily released iwhen a user wishes to grasp'and lift the carrier.

Thus the bottle carrier provided by the present invention embodies structural and functional characteristics which adapt the carrier to the usual procedure followed in the merchandising of bottled goods such as soft drinks.

It will be understood that in the foregoing I have described but a selected embodiment of my invention. Hence, while I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my inven- 'donot vwish to'fbe limited to the --precise details set forth' but desire to avail myself offsuch changes and alternationsas yfall within the purview of the following claims.

Iclaim: v. -1 I' ,Y Y" l. A preformed collapsible bottle'carrier of'l the kcharacter"described formed, from sheet material such as cardboard to provide abottom walla pair of side wall sections =respectively pivoted to and extending upwardly from'the remotev edges of said bottom wall, bottle receiving sections pivoted to the upper' edges of said side walls and having bottle receiving openings therein through which bottles may beiinserted downwardly to rest on said bottom panels, a two-ply handle secwith respect to said bottle receiving sections when y the carrier is erected, there being a pair of said depending end walls at each end of said bottle' carrier, and means including a pair of members each having an outer' end portion permanently attached to one of said pairs of end walls 'and each having a portion mounted for movement within the said handle section for maintaining said end walls in a substantially vertical position when said bottle carrier is in an erected and filled condition.

2. A preformed collapsible bottle carrier of the character described formed from sheet material such as cardboard to provide a bottom wall, a pair of side wall sections respectively pivoted to and extending upwardly from th'e remote edges of said bottom wall, bottle receiving sections respectively pivoted to the upper edges of said`side walls and having bottle receiving openings therein through which bottles may be inserted downwardly to rest on said bottom panels, a handle section pivotally connected to and extending upwardly from the adjacent edges of said bottle receiving sections, said handle section having a finger gripping opening formed therein, and depending end walls pivotally connected to the end edges of said bottle receiving sections and adapted to be folded into the space between bottle including a pair of members each having an outer Y end portion permanently attached to one of said pairs of end walls, and each of said membersv having an inner end portion mounted for movement between said handle panels and engaging said fastening means when said end walls are in a substantially vertical position and'said bottle carrier is in an erected and filled condition,

3. A preformed collapsible bottle carrier of the character described formed from sheet material such as cardboard to provide a bottom wall, a

pair voi sidewall sections respectively pivoted to and extending upwardlyvfrom the remote edges .of said bottom wall, bottle receiving sections respectively pivoted to the upper edges of said side walls and having bottle receiving. openings therein throughwhich bottles may be inserted downwardly torest on saidbottom panels, said bottle receiving sections-being arranged when the car- .rler is erect to extendupwardly at an angle and toward each other, and said openings in said bottle receiving sections beingsized to snugly receive andv embrace bottles of a predetermined diameter,

a handle section plvotally connected to' and extending upwardly from the adjacent edges of said bottle receiving sections, said handle section having a finger gripping opening-formed therein, and depending end'walls hingedly connected to the end edges of said bottle receiving sections having fold lines therein along which said end walls are adapted to be folded into the space between bottle receiving sections when the carrier is collapsed, said handle section comprising a pair of flat handle panels, means arranged adjacent the lower end por-tion of said handle section and disposed approximately midway between the ends thereof for fastening said handle panels together, there being a pair of said depending end walls at each end of said bottle carrier, and means including a pair of members each having an outer end portion permanently attached to one of said pairs of end wallsl and each of said members having an inner end portion mounted for movement between said handle panels and engaging said fastening means when said end walls are disposed in a substantially vertical position and said bottle carrier is in an erected and filled condition.

4. A preformed collapsiblebottle carrier of the character described formed from sheet material such as cardboard to provide a bottom wall, a pair of side Wall sections respectively pivoted to and extending upwardly from the remote edges of said bottom wall, bottle receiving sections respectively pivoted to the upper edges of said side walls and -converging toward each other in substantial upwardly sloping relation when said carrier is erected, said bottle receiving sections having bottle receiving openings therein through which bottles may be inserted downwardly to rest on said bottoni panels, a handle section pivotally connected to and extending upwardly from the adjacent edges of said bottle receiving sections, said handle section having'a finger gripping opening formed therein, generally triangular end flaps formed on each end of each bottle receiving section and adapted to be disposed in substantially vertical depending relationship with respect to said bottle receiving sections when the carrier is erected, there being a pair of said generally triangular end Walls at each end of said bottle carrier, means hingedly joining each of said pair of end walls together midway between the side edges thereof for movement as a unit into and out of erected position and into and out of collapsed position, and a pair of arms each having an outer end portion attached to one of said pairs of end walls at the aforesaid hinge joint therebetween, said handle section comprising a pair of handle panels, and each of said arms having an inner end portion projecting between said handle panels and adapted to be swingably moved therein by movement of the said pair of end walls attached thereto into and out of erected and collapsed position.

5. A preformed collapsible bottle carrier of the manana character described formed from sheet materiel such as cardboard to provide a bottom wall comprising two pivotally connected panels, side wall sections respectively pivoted to and extending upwardly from the remote edges of said bottom panels, bottle receiving sections pivoted to the upper edges of said side walls and having bottle receiving openings therein through which bottles may be inserted downwardly to rest on said bottom panels, a handle section pivotally connected to and extending upwardly from the adjacent edges of said bottle receiving sections, said handle section having a linger gripping opening formed therein, and depending end walls pivotally connected to the end-edges of said bottle receiving sections and adapted to be folded into the space between bottle receiving sections when the carrier is collapsed and to be moved downwardly andoutwardly of the carrier in a direction endwise of the carrier into substantially vertical depending relationship with respect to said bottle receiving sections when the carrier is erected, a pair of arms operatively associated one with each of said foldable end walls, said arms being constructed and arranged to extend in an upward direction with respect to said handle when said carrier is in its collapsed relation, and to be moved downwardly `,with respect to said handle section as an incident to the erection oi the carrier, and means associated with said handle operable to limit such downward movement of said arms and thereby limit downward and outward movement of said end walls.

6. A bottle carrier made from cardboard to provide a handle section, pivotally related bottle receiving sections along the lower end of said handle section, said bottle receiving sections being adapted to extend in downwardly and outwardly diverging relationship from said handle section and having bottle receiving openings therein through which a plurality of bottles may be inserted or removed vfrom the carrier on each side of said handle section, side walls respectively pivotally connected to and adapted to extend downwardly from the remote edges of said bottle receiving sections, a bottom wall comprising two panels pivotally connected along their remote edges to the lower edges of said side walls and pivotally connected to each vother midway between said two side walls, end walls pivotally connected to and depending from opposite ends of said bottle receiving sections when the carrier is erected so .as to be foldable into the space between said bottle receiving sections when the carrier is collapsed, and means permanently connected to said end walls and acting between said edges voi! said bottle receiving sections, said handle section having a ilnger gripping opening formed therein, generally triangular end iiaps formed on each end of each bottle receiving section and adapted to be disposed in substantially vertical depending relationship with respect to said bottle receiving sections when the carrier is erected, means joining the adjacent edges of adjacent end ilaps whereby said end flaps on each end of the carrier are tensioned -to and held in a substantially vertical relationship as an incident to the loading of bottles of a predetermined diameter in the two adjacent bottle receiving openings, a pair of arms operatively associated respectively with said pairs of joined end flaps, said arms being constructed and arranged to extend in an upward direction with respect to said handle when said carrier is in its collapsed relation, and to be moved downwardly with respect to said handle section as an incident to the erection of the carrier, and means associated with said handle operable to limit such downward movement of said arms and thereby limit outward movement of said joined pairs of naps.

8. A preformed collapsible bottle carrier formed from a cardboard blank to provide a bottom wall comprising two pivotally connected panels, a pair of side wall sections pivoted to and extending upwardly from the remote edges of said bottom panels, bottle receiving sections pivoted to the.

upper edges of said side walls and converging toward each other in substantial upwardly sloping relation, said bottle receiving sections having bottle receiving openings therein through which bottles may be inserted downwardly to rest on said bottom panels, a handle section comprising a pair tion and adapted tobe disposed in substantially vertical depending positions with respect to said bottle receiving sections when the carrier is erected, said end flaps also being adapted to be folded end walls and said handle section and operable eachother in substantial upwardly sloping relation, said bottle receiving sections having bottle receiving openings therein through which bottles may be inserted downwardly to rest on said bottom panels, a handle sectionpivotally connected to andextending upwardly from the adjacent inwardly to inactive positions between said bottle receiving sections when the carrier is collapsed, means pivotally joining the adjacent edges of adjacent end flaps to maintain said adjacent edges of adjacent end flaps in connected relation while such end flaps are moved betweenI said positions, and whereby said aps on each end of the carrier are tensioned to and held in a substantially vertical relationship as an incident to the loadingof bottles of a predetermined diameter in thetwo adjacent-bottle receiving openings, arms formed on said blank and connected one to each pair of joined ilaps so as to project therefrom into the space between the panels of said handle, means on said handle limiting movement Aof said arms and said aps in the carriererecting operation, said arms in said erecting ope eration being moved to positions wherein they serve as separating and cushioning` means between the bottles loaded in adjacent bottle receiving openings.

9. A bottle carrier of the character described formed from sheet material cut and scored to provide a handle havin'g a handle opening therein, a pair of bottle receiving sections pivotally connected to and adapted to extend downwardly and outwardly therefrom in opposite directions,

said bottle receiving sections having openings therein througniwmeh bottles may be inserted by' downward movement orzremoved by an upward withdrawing movement, a pair of side walls respectively pivoted to and extending downwardly from said bottle receiving'sections, and a bottom wall formed by two similar panels connected to each other and pivotally connected to the lower edges of said side Walls so as to extend therebetween, said bottle wall having an upwardly extending separating wall located along the juncture' of said panels and substantially in augment with said handle section, said separating wall being formed by a pair of similarsections disposed in face to face relation and each connected along a. fold line to the adjacent panel of said bottom wall, said panels adjacent to said fold lline being formed with clearance openings therein through which fastening means may be applied to said sections of said separating wall to hold said sections of said separating wall in the desired face to face relation.

10. A preformed collapsible bottle carrier of the character described formed from sheet material such as cardboard to provide a bottom wall comprising two pivotally connected panels, side wall sections respectively pivoted to and extending upwardly from the remote edges of said' bottom` panels, bottle receiving sections pivoted to the upper edges of said side walls and having bottle receiving openings therein through which bottles may be inserted downwardly to rest on said bottom panels, a handle comprising two sections disposed in face to face relation with a slight space therebetween in at least selected areas and respectively connected to and extending upwardly from the adjacentI edges of 'said bottle receiving sections, said sections of said handle having substantially aligned linger gripping openings formed therein, and depending end walls pivotally connected to the end edges of said bottle receiving sections and adapted to be folded into the space between bottle receiving sections when the carrier is collapsed and to be moved downwardly and outwardly of the carrier in a direction endwise of thecarrier into substantially vertical depending relationship with respect to said bottle receiving sections when the carrier is erected, arms operatively associated with said foldable end walls, said arms being constructed and arranged to extend in an upward direction into the space between said sections of said handle when said carrier `is initsiicollapsedrelation, and to be moved downwardly and in a rotative manner within said space as an incident tothe erection of the carrier, and fastening means connecting said sections of Ysaid handle together and positioned to act as stop means with respect to said arms to limit such downward movement of said arms and thereby limit downward and outward movement of said end walls.

11. A collapsible bottle carrier of the character described formed from cardboard and comprising an elongated blank having a transverse fold intermediate its ends to provide parallel portions on opposite sides of and adjacent to said fold line to provide a handle section, the upper edge of said handle section being defined by said fold line, said handle section having a nger gripping opening therethrough spaced downwardly from said upper edge, the parallel portions oi said handle section being secured together somewhat below said linger gripping opening to define` the lower edge of said handle section, a pair of bottle receiving sections joined by fold lines to the respective lower edges of said parallel portions of said handle section, said bottle receiving sections having openings therein through which bottles may be inserted by downward movement or removed by an upward withdrawing movement, a pair of side Walls respectively pivoted to and extending downwardly from said bottle receiving sections, and a bottom wall formed by two similar panels connected to each other and pivotally connected to the lower edges of said side walls so as to extend therebetween, said bottom wall having a separating wall formed by a pair of similar ap sections formed at the respective ends of said blank and each connected along a fold line to the adjacent paneloi said bottom wall, said flap sections being disposed in face to face relation and said panels adjacent to said flap sections being formed with clearance openings therein through which fastening means may be applied to said sections of said separating wall to hold said sections of said separating Wall in the desired face to face relation. e

JOSEPH L. LYONS, JR.

Disclaimer 2,393,114.J0sepk L. Lyons, Jr., Chicago,

Jan. 15, 1946. Disclaimer filed Box Oowpovatz'on. Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims l to [yjoz'al Gazette November 13, 1951.]

Ill. BOTTLE CARRIER. Patent dated Ct. 12, 1951, by the assignee, Empire 11, inclusive, of said patent. 

